To not want the Doctor to be female, gay, American, black, Chinese, a dwarf, a ten-year-old, any combination of them, a person in a coma who dreamed the entire thing or anything else that people might come up with? If nothing else, DW is doing fine as it is so why risk ruining it? I'd rather see interesting other characters who are those things, well except the last one because that's just stupid.
(Fun thread, argue in the other one please )

I'm not wild about the female idea, but I don think anything should be ruled out without seeing it in action first. I can think of a number of non white actors who would be wonderful in the role and I'd hate to think that they would be ruled out for the colour of their skin.

Personally I've always thought the Doctor's sexuality should be slightly awkward rather than gay, straight etc.

I voted 'no': it's not unreasonable for you to feel this way. Personally, I disagree with your position, as I'd have no problem with the Doctor taking any number of forms, with the proviso that it doesn't detract from the stories. For me, there's little reason why there shouldn't be a black or female doctor, for example - just so long as it doesn't remain too much of an issue beyond the 'regeneration episode'.
I'd draw the line at a floating bagel, though (apologies to the dough fanciers out there!)

Yes, sadly, you are unreasonable. And you know it too. Best thing you can do is to stop trying to deny it and gather support from other unreasonable people. If you honestly want to break yourself of your entirely unreasonable mindset you need to start by admitting (to yourself) why you needed to create this this thread.

I really don't see why the doctor couldn't be black. If hair colour can change then why not skin colour?

I guess it would have been problematic when they used to do historicals — either you'd have to gloss over how we've treated black people for a large run of history or else you'd be straying far outside teatime territory — but it doesn't feel like much of an impediment now.

I don't see why the Doctor couldn't be black, or any particular ethnicity. If he can change his entire appearance, then surely pigmentation of the skin is something only minor to change considering all the other changes he goes through.

I think the Doctor plunders through life without an explicit sexuality, and he doesn't really need one. Relationships with the likes of Rose and River may be inherently heterosexual in nature, but the strength of the character is that he never explicitly says he bats for that team and that team only. The Doctor shouldn't be gay or bisexual, just as he shouldn't be heterosexual. It's more true to form to just see him act awkwardly at the first sign of anything romantic.

To not want the Doctor to be female, gay, American, black, Chinese, a dwarf, a ten-year-old, any combination of them, a person in a coma who dreamed the entire thing or anything else that people might come up with? If nothing else, DW is doing fine as it is so why risk ruining it? I'd rather see interesting other characters who are those things, well except the last one because that's just stupid.
(Fun thread, argue in the other one please )

Looks like we all have different opinions about what constitutes essential "Doctor-iness". For example, I'm sanguine about a female Doctor, but I would not want a different nationality. For me British quirkiness and eccentricity are part of, if not the Doctor himself, the show overall.

For an example, compare and contrast "Sherlock" with "Elementary". "Sherlock", although transplanted to the modern era, is still Sherlock Holmes, whereas "Elementary" is not much different from any "standard" US crime-based drama.

Maybe you could consider the Doctor as a creature who presents themselves to the characters in a familiar way. British to British companions and when in Britain.

If he had adventures in the US more often, maybe he could be American. (but it would be a completely different show for an American audience).

To not want the Doctor to be female, gay, American, black, Chinese, a dwarf, a ten-year-old, any combination of them, a person in a coma who dreamed the entire thing or anything else that people might come up with? If nothing else, DW is doing fine as it is so why risk ruining it? I'd rather see interesting other characters who are those things, well except the last one because that's just stupid.
(Fun thread, argue in the other one please )

I've got no problem with the Doctor being played by a Black or Asian actor, though it should be because the actor is right, not just to have a token Black Doctor, that would be patronising and counter-productive.

I really don't see the need for a Female Doctor though, For one I wouldn't want to see hordes of transvsestite fanboys posting pictures of themselves dressed as her.

Looks like we all have different opinions about what constitutes essential "Doctor-iness". For example, I'm sanguine about a female Doctor, but I would not want a different nationality. For me British quirkiness and eccentricity are part of, if not the Doctor himself, the show overall.

For an example, compare and contrast "Sherlock" with "Elementary". "Sherlock", although transplanted to the modern era, is still Sherlock Holmes, whereas "Elementary" is not much different from any "standard" US crime-based drama.

Maybe you could consider the Doctor as a creature who presents themselves to the characters in a familiar way. British to British companions and when in Britain.

If he had adventures in the US more often, maybe he could be American. (but it would be a completely different show for an American audience).